Air

Quality control at space station Air is such that, to date, they seem incapable of releasing a duff album. There is, however, a trend that each subsequent release is slightly more brooding than the last, and that their immaculate downtempo groove lean ever closer to a classical performance. It's fitting therefore that this 2007 effort is called a Symphony, as it's closer to Reich and Debussy than Kruder and Dorfmeister. Dreamy but not blissful, brooding but not malevolent, Air's cool gravitas keeps them firmly within essential listening territory.

Even when they're settling for atmosphere, meaning not bothering with moon tunes, Air are too corny for chillout. All they're good for is fromage, which we in Dollarland call cheese--amusing dinner music. And though on 2004's Talkie Walkie they lifted themselves out of the lukewarm miasma that had enveloped them since Moon Safari, Pocket Symphony reverts to the textured beat-and-bassline rifflets of Air ordinaire. Does some mild theme-and-variation justify the title? With these themes, who can remember? What you remember is that both male synth whizzes sing--though note that on the foggiest verbiage, e.g. "burnt-out husk of the morning," the likes of Jarvis Cocker do the dirty work. (Grade - ** 1/2)